I want to start wedding photography! Part 1 { Delight & Be Savvy }

I have been asked a lot how I got into weddings, and I can promise you this, I still am! It is most definitely a work in progress but I can tell you how I have got to where I am today and how I got to shoot my first weddings, and I how I am starting in a new market of weddings and a higher class of wedding photographers I work for today vs when I started a few years ago.

How did I shoot my first wedding? Well, I will admit I had my foot in the door. My friends mom was a wedding photographer at the time and I was so fortunate to learn along side her for quite some time but I did have to “prove” myself to some other photographers that I wanted to work for. What about when you get your first inquiry for a wedding of you own? Getting your FIRST wedding inquiry has to be one of the most scary and exciting moments! You want to scream “FINALLY!” but you’re thinking “maybe I’m not ready yet!”

 

When starting out I found out there was this viscous cycle, you cant have a wedding portfolio without shooting a wedding and you cant shoot a wedding without a portfolio. I guess this isn’t entirely true, you can show off your abilities in many ways. My biggest tip is shoot a lot! And keep shooting! Are you tired of that advice? I’m sorry  but that is the best advice once you realize its key. Practice makes perfect couldn’t be more true. You can watch and read hours of material but unless you go out and put that knowledge into action its dead! If you’ve never shot a wedding, photograph things that could be at a wedding! Flowers, Jewlery, portraits, buildings, events (birthday parties!)  and details like food, paper goods, and accessories are all things you could have in your portfolio to show a photographer who you would potentially want to work with or even a bride who likes your photography. Next is something you might now want to hear but something I have done (And actually have done recently believe it or not) but thats work for free. When I was starting out I would jump at ANY job, even if that was working for little or nothing! Offer to shadow, hold a bag or third shoot for a photographer. Experience is key, and its just as important as having pretty poses and pictures in your portfolio.

Next is be confident in your abilities, Even if you have no experience  you can be confident and promise to do your best! Own that camera, and actually learn all those buttons and settings! I only shoot Manual because I FORCED myself to learn all of the setting and now I can look at a situation and quickly adjust my camera to get it as accurate as possible! If you can continue to practice and know your gear, this is such a great skill you can offer as a wedding photographer! Weddings are so fast paced and sometimes, you only get one shot! As a wedding photographer myself, a confident assistant is such a relief! Don’t make the photographer feel like they will have to “babysit” you all day to make sure you are doing simple things correctly like having basic settings on your camera right (Don’t worry we all make mistakes sometimes) or a big one is how you are going to treat their clients! Being confident and professional is something I had to CHOOSE to be in the beginning, even though I had no experience and was nervous and scared as ever!  Beautiful things happen outside of your comfort zone. Being shy and introverted at a wedding isn’t much of an option! Have fun, talk to people and assert yourself because you are their to do a job for the bride and groom! Don’t be afraid to (politely) ask someone to move or for someone to follow you outside if it means you are getting the best shot if you can have the control over that. If you can learn that sooner than later, I promise you will go far!  I used to be so afraid to talk to guests or clients at a wedding but you have to “click” with the people before you “click” your camera! Get it? ;)

Lastly, continue to educate and better yourself if the jobs just aren’t coming! In the winter when wedding season is slow I join local second shooting groups on Facebook, I watch a lot of  creative live, try out a new teqnique with my gear or editing, or improve my online presence for next year like blogging or revamping your website!

 

I truly hope this post gives you some insight if you were unsure on where to begin in the big world of wedding photography! I promise if you know its your passion, it is the most exciting job ever! But maybe I’m bias and just love what I get to do!

Thanks for reading! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions for a future post!